GB2240962A - Badge pins - Google Patents

Abstract

A badge has a face plate (103) on which is mounted a design sheet (101) and a transparent cover (102). A backing plate (105) is held by friction on the reverse side of the face plate and, together with the face plate, defines a channel for a badge pin (106, 107). The badge pin has a portion (106) following the general shape of the channel for retention of the pin therein and a resilient fastening portion (107) extending across the reverse face of the face plate. The resilience of the spring portion is such that it is biased towards and rests on the reverse side of the face plate. <IMAGE>

Description

B PINS This invention relates to badges or buttons for ornamental wear, and in particular to fasteners for such badges or buttons.

Figure 1 shows a typical badge assembly. A design sheet 101 and transparent cover sheet 102 cover a convex face plate 103 and are folded over the lip of the face plate extending across the interior surface of the face plate beyond the lip. The sheets 101 and 102 are retained by having their edge portions crimped between the inner surface of the lip 104 and an opposing surface of a badge back 105 retained adjacent to the concave face of the facing plate by friction.

The badge back is conveniently a metal or plastics annulus and defines with the interior surface of the face plate a channel for receiving a 'D' pin which enables the badge to be fastened to the wearer's clothing. An example of the pin is shown in Figure 2. It comprises a length of copper wire 106 semi-circular in shape having a straight resilient fastening spring portion 107 across its diameter. The shape of the semi-circular portion is chosen to follow the shape of the channel. The fastening spring portion is pointed at its free end 108 and is sprung such that when in position in the channel 109 it extends away from the interior surface of the face plate as shown in Figure Ib). The badge is 'closed' by depressing the fastening spring towards the base plate aqainst its resilience and positioning the pointed tip under the gate of 110 of the spring.The resilience of the spring forces the spring tip against the underside of the gate which prevents it from opening.

Although badges having springs of the type described have proved very popular over the years, the springs are not wholly appropriate to recent EEC safety directives. Moreover, it has been proposed to sell badges of the type described from vending machines. The existing arrangement is unsuitable for dispensing from vending machines as the spring portions are liable to be caught inside the machine.

The present invention aims to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages and accordingly provides a badge pin for attaching a badge to a garment, the pin having a face plate and a backing portion defining a channel therebetween for retention of the pin, a portion of the pin being shaped to follow the channel, the pin having a resilient spring portion for insertion into the article to which the badge is to be attached and which, in position on the badge, extends substantially across the reverse of the face plate, characterised in that the resilient portion is biased towards the face plate.

A badge including a badge pin embodying the invention has the advantage that the spring portion is urged against the face plate of the badge by its own resilience. This means that there is no longer a tendancy for the spring to protrude away fram the face plate of the badge which both overcomes safety problems and also enables the badge to be dispensed from q vending machine.

Preferably, the portion of the spring shaped to follow the channel includes a substantially V shaped gate portion opposite the free end of the resilient portion.

The invention also provides a badge comprising a face plate and a backing portion defining a channel therebetween, and a pin for attachment of the badge to a garment, the pin having a portion shaped to follow the channel and being received therein and a resilient spring portion extending across the reverse face of the face plate for insertion into the article to which the badge is to be attached, characterised in that the resilient portion is biased towards the face plate.

Ertodinents of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accampanying drawings in which: Figures la) and b) shows the known badge assembly previously described; Figure 2a) and b) show, respectively, plan and side views of the known badge pins previously described; Figures 3a) and b) show badge pins embodying the invention; and Figure 4 shows a badge with a pin embodying the invention.

The badge pin of Figure 3a is identical to that of Figure 2 except that the direction of the sprung portion 107 has been reversed. Thus, whereas in Figure 2 the natural resilience of the sprung portion causes it to extend above the gate, and so when in position on the badge, away from the rear of the badge, the spring portion of the embodiment of Figure 3a is sprung in the opposite direction. Thus, when in position on a badge the portion bears upon the reverse of the face plate of the badge and is held there by its own resilience as shown in Figure 4.

Where the badge pin is made from a relatively malleable metal such as copper wire it is possible that the user will bend the spring portion to reverse its resilience so that the gate is again required to hold the badge in position.

Where the badge is to be dispensed from a vending machine, it is desirable that the pin is at least flush with the base of the badge back. Thus, for such circumstances it is desirable to bend the gate towards the circumferential portion of the pin; that is to reduce the angle 0 shown in Figure 3a.

Other modifications to the badge and badge pin are possible and will occur to the skilled reader. For example, the invention is not limited to circular badges but to badges of any shape. The only requirement is that a portion of the pin should follow the general shape of the channel formed between the face plate and the back of the badge. Strict conformity to the shape of the channel is not required; the purpose of the portion being to ensure that the pin is retained in position.

Claims (6)

cEAINS

1. A badge pin for attaching a badge to an article, the badge having a face plate and a backing portion defining a channel therebetween for retention of the pin, a portion of the pin being shaped to follow the channel and having a resilient spring portion for insertion into the article into which the badge is to be attached and which, in position on the badge, extends across the reverse of the face plate, characterised in that the resilient portion is biased towards the face plate.

2. A badge pin according the claim 1, wherein the portion of the spring shaped to follow the channel includes a substantially V shaped portion opposite the free end of the resilient portion.

3. A badge pin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel defined by the badge face plate and backing portion is substantially circular and the pin is substantially D shaped.

4. A badge comprising a face plate and a backing portion defining a channel there between, and a pin for attachment of the badge to a garment, the pin having a portion shaped to follow the channel and being received therein, and a resilient spring portion extending across the reverse face of the face plate for securing the badge to an article, characterised in that the resilient portion is biased towards the face plate.

5. A badge pin substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A badge substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.